Jeremy Wapp: The Helen you know starts to look more appealing

Jeremy Wapp

Jeremy Wapp, a 22-year-old car parts salesman from Manurewa, is a first-time voter. Undecided and fairly apolitical, he is the face of the voting public our politicians need to woo. In the campaign's last week, he is wavering between the merit of a change of government with National, and the devil he knows in Labour:

"The whole Exclusive Brethren thing is a hoot. It's all very hypocritical. They don't vote, yet they support National. But it matters only slightly when I decide who to vote for.

I've definitely been heading away from National. I find their policies good, but I think a lot of what is influencing me is what people around me are saying.

Where honestly can you get all this money to pay for tax cuts?

If there was an election held tomorrow, I'd probably lean a bit more towards Helen. I know I've said plenty about my views on National's policies on tax, welfare and one standard for all, but it's a case of the devil you know.

What really can we complain about? I'm sure you can pick at everything, but in general, you can't really dog Helen too much.

Sure, Labour would be much better if perhaps they had a look at some of National's more popular policies without dismissing them outright.

With a billion-dollar surplus, what are we doing with it? It'd be nice to get some of that back. Even if it was just a rebate, like a bonus for the country.

With every year there is excess, you either do something like that, or invest it back into the health system."